UNAIR NEWS Aidatul Fitriyah has once again brought recognition to 51动漫 (). Together with Beckham Napitupulu from PKN STAN, she claimed first place in the International Scientific Research Paper Competition, hosted by Universitas Bangka Belitung. The event was held virtually on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
The competition featured four categories: essay, scientific research paper, tool design, and business competition. Fitriyah and Napitupulu competed in the scientific research paper category, claiming first place with their policy research on food governance.
From competitors to collaborators
Interestingly, their partnership did not begin as a team but originated at the FAO Indonesia forum, where both presented their individual policy papers. Fitriyah explained that they were motivated to join the competition to test their ideas in a more challenging, competitive setting.
淚 noticed Napitupulu had a strong background in finance, which complemented my interest in government regulations. That檚 why we decided to collaborate in this competition, Fitriyah said.
Napitupulu added, 淲e wanted to see if our ideas could withstand evaluation by experts from different universities and countries. This cross-campus, interdisciplinary collaboration also helped us refine our analysis.
Fiscal solutions for food waste
Their research proposed an integrated regulatory and fiscal framework to reduce food loss and waste in the HoReCa sector (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafes). The study suggested a policy model that combined tax incentives, food donation mechanisms, and legal protections, designed to be immediately actionable by local governments.
Fitriyah and Napitupulu chose this focus because Indonesia faces a paradox: abundant food surpluses alongside high levels of stunting and food insecurity. Fitriyah noted that regulatory gaps must be addressed through evidence-based policy solutions.
Significance of the achievement
Competing against participants from multiple countries provided them with invaluable experience. 淗onestly, the biggest challenge was internal, aligning our different research approaches. We overcame it by dividing roles clearly and maintaining intensive dialogue, Napitupulu said.
For the winning duo, the trophy is not the ultimate goal. They hope their research moves toward practical implementation, including engaging with local governments and publishing their findings to benefit a wider community.
淲e hope this research goes beyond the competition and truly contributes to improving food governance in Indonesia, Fitriyah concluded.
Author: Nur Khovivatul Mukorrobah
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
